Your Local News
Man Pleads Guilty to Murder of His Father
Ricky L. Brazier, 57 of Tullahoma was accused of murdering his father Edward Brazier on January 27, 2014. On Wednesday Brazier entered a plea of guilty of 2nd degree murder. He received a sentence of 18 years in a state penitentiary. The 57 year-old Brazier was accused of choking his father at the residence they shared on Marbury Road. According to investigators, a 9-1-1 call was received at the Coffee County Communication Center from the younger Brazier in which he allegedly said, “I’ve killed my father” and according to warrants, he told the dispatcher that he “choked him.” Tullahoma...
Human Trafficking: Modern-Day Slavery Takes Place in TN
Human-rights organizations increasingly are concerned about what’s happening behind closed doors in homes and businesses across Tennessee. With January being Human Trafficking Prevention Month, people such as Jenna Novak who work with victims of the practice defined as modern-day slavery want people to know the warning signs. “You’ll see signs where individuals that are working either in restaurants or nail salons are not able to look you in the eye,” she said, “or they were living at the location and they’re not allowed to leave that location.” Novak said sex trafficking is easier to recognize and more often reported...
Comptroller Recovers Record Amount of Money
The Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury recovered a record-breaking amount of money from tips received from the office’s Fraud, Abuse, and Waste Hotline last fiscal year. Confidential tips to the hotline led to the recovery of $1,112,500 in confirmed thefts, shortages and questionable costs for the last fiscal year. Comptroller Justin P. Wilson says, “Tips to the hotline involved allegations against municipalities, counties, state agencies, federal agencies, and non-profit recipients of government funds.” You can call the 800-232-5454 during business hours and speak to someone in the Comptroller’s office. You can also call after hours and leave a detailed...
Gas Prices Headed Lower
Gas prices are likely to remain low in 2016. AAA estimates the annual average price of gas in 2016 is likely to end up between $2.25 and $2.45 per gallon, which would be cheaper or at least comparable to this year’s average of $2.40 per gallon. “Motorists enjoyed some of the cheapest gas prices in years thanks to a global overabundance in oil supplies which helped keep the price of oil and gasoline production costs low,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Gas prices remained at their lowest level for the year-end holidays since the...
A New Donation from the Bonnaroo Works Fund Raises Manchester’s Artistic Flair
The Bonnaroo Works Fund, the charitable arm of the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, recently partnered with the Manchester Recreation Complex to create a mural that reflects the Bonnaroo Works Fund’s continued mission of making communities healthier through the arts, education and environmental sustainability. The recently completed mural overlooks the outdoor pool area of the complex and can be enjoyed by Manchester residents as they drive past. According to Nina Miller, Bonnaroo Works Fund director, the mural fills a community need and underscores the Bonnaroo Works Fund’s mission of advancing the arts. The building hadn’t been painted since opening...
Hamilton County School about Ooltewah Troubled Basketball Players
Pressure is mounting for Hamilton County school officials to publicly show action is underway to handle the assault of a 15-year-old student. The Chattanooga Times Free Press reports an Ooltewah High School freshman was hospitalized on Dec. 22. Three of his basketball teammates were arrested and later charged with aggravated rape and aggravated assault. District officials haven’t spoken publicly about the investigation. Meanwhile, a group of more than 120 Ooltewah High School alumni are asking for an outside authority to investigate the incident. Assistant Superintendent Lee McDade says an investigation into the assault is ongoing, and Ooltewah will handle...
Tennessee Wanting to Expand Employer Education Program
The Tennessee Higher Education Commission is asking lawmakers to expand a $10 million grant program that paired employers with colleges to develop academic programs tailored to the needs of local job markets. According to The Tennessean, the commission said in a report that Labor Education Alignment Program has grown substantially, but needs to receive more funding and attention during the upcoming legislative session. The program doled out the grant funding to 12 different coalitions late in 2014. The report says that thousands of students across 51 counties were reached by the first wave of grant funding, including 13,363 students...
Teenagers Arrested after Bomb Threat at Wal-Mart in Tullahoma
Two Franklin County teens were arrested Friday night, Jan. 1, after they allegedly called in a bomb threat to the Tullahoma Wal-Mart Store on North Jackson Street. According to a report by Tullahoma Police Officer William Pyrdom, a store employee received a call around 10 p.m. New Year’s night telling her that there was a bomb in the building. The caller then hung up. Dispatchers with the Coffee County Communication Center contacted Verizon officials who advised that the call originated in Franklin County. A Franklin County Sheriff’s deputy went to the residence and spoke with the teens. The two...
